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Carole felt almost envious in that
moment of appraisal.
    “Nice meeting you,” said Vivian sweetly, as
though she meant it.
    “You, too,” Carole said, forging a bright
smile.
    The two shook hands. Carole couldn’t help but
notice Vivian’s small hands were cold as ice, in spite of the fact
the room itself was almost lukewarm. She wondered if Stuart’s wife
had a chilly disposition in more ways than one.
    Seated, they both ordered coffee.
    “Stuart’s told me so much about you,” Vivian
remarked.
    Carole raised her brows. “Really?” I know
almost nothing about you.
    “Yes. He says you’re one of the criminal
justice system’s bright lights when it comes to dispensing
justice.”
    Carole took a breath. “I don’t know how
bright my light is,” she downplayed it. “I try to do my job to the
best of my ability. Sometimes it isn’t always enough.”
    “Tell me about it,” muttered Vivian. “There
must be people who manage to slip through the cracks all the time,
no matter what.”
    “Not as many as you might think,” Carole said
thoughtfully. “Most of the bad people have a way of getting their
just rewards one way or the other.”
    Vivian licked her lips, staring across the
table. “You’re probably right. Anyway, it’s cool to know that
you’re a judge. I’m not sure I have what it takes to put the fate
of people, good or bad, in my hands.”
    “It certainly isn’t for everyone,” Carole
understated. “Being a judge wasn’t my life’s goal. I just kind of
evolved into it. A long story, really.”
    “I’d like to hear it sometime.”
    They were interrupted when the coffee
arrived. This suited Carole just fine. She felt uneasy talking
about herself, especially since she had gone there specifically to
discuss Vivian’s pregnancy. She had wanted to dislike the woman for
some reason, but found herself feeling just the opposite.
    After ordering, Carole approached the subject
gingerly. “Stuart mentioned you two were thinking about maybe
having a child—”
    Vivian reacted as though she had been
slapped. “Is that what he said?”
    Carole hesitated, knowing it wasn’t quite
what he told her. “Ever since I’ve known Stuart, he’s talked about
having a family someday.”
    “We agreed when we got married that there
would be no children,” Vivian said gruffly. “Don’t get me
wrong. I love kids and believe they’re the hope for the future.
But—” she checked herself, as if having run into a brick wall.
    “You’re not ready to bring a child into the
world?” Carole asked intuitively.
    “Something like that.” Vivian batted her
lashes noncommittally. “I guess I’m afraid I just won’t be a good
mother. Or that maybe he won’t be a good father.”
    Carole couldn’t imagine Stuart not being a
good father. But how could she really know what type of father he
would make? Many men presented themselves to be good potential
family men on the surface and turned out to be lousy fathers and
husbands when the façade was peeled away like old wallpaper.
    Could Stuart be one of these types?
    She certainly couldn’t knock Vivian for
fearing motherhood. After all, wasn’t that one of the reasons she
was reluctant to have children? Not knowing if she had the patience
and understanding to make a good mother. Or even enough love to
give to her child.
    “I’m pregnant,” Vivian announced
unceremoniously. “I guess Stuart didn’t mention that to you—”
    Carole sighed, not sure how to respond. “Are
you thinking about terminating the pregnancy?”
    Vivian sipped her coffee. “I’m not really
sure what I want to do.” She paused. “All I know is I just don’t
want to be pressured into doing something we’ll both end up
regretting. Does that make sense to you?” she asked nervously.
    “Yes, it does,” Carole responded. “Maybe you
and Stuart should consider counseling while weighing all your
options?”
    “This has to be a personal decision,”
snapped Vivian, as if under